John Splendid

                                                                                      THE BAGPIPE, THE SPORRAN, AND THE DIRKColin had a melancholy homecoming from University to his father's house in the shire of Argile and the fabled highlands of Scotland.The year is 1744. The land of peaceful glens, misty lochs and the skirl of pipes in the heather is embroiled in change.From the fractious clan battles has arisen the famous Montrose, who sacks Inveraray and then wins the battle of Inverlochy. The Marquis of Argile, Gillesbeg Gruamach, wishes to return from clan warfare to peace and lawful commerce and opposes Montrose.Colin meets the swaggering character Iain Aluinn -- known to his compatriots as John Splendid -- who serves his Marquis, but longs for rebellion and battle.Colin finds adventure and romance in tumultuous homeland -- and far, far more.